Not all of the North Koreans' play against the USA in their 2-1 semifinal win at the U-20 Women's World Cup was admirable. Three key U.S. attackers, Ally Watt, Mallory Pugh and Ashley Sanchez, needed examination for possible head injuries following Korean fouls.

Two years ago in Canada, the U-20 Women's World Cup ended in disappointment when Coach Michelle French's team fell to North Korea on a penalty-kick tiebreaker after a 1-1 tie in the quarterfinals.

The USA did not receive a single yellow card in its three Group C games at the U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea, which is why Coach Michelle French's team will face Mexico in the quarterfinals on Friday instead of defending champion Germany.

The bashing of high school soccer reached new heights with the U.S. Soccer Federation launching a Development Academy for girls (in 2017) and technical director April Heinrichs recently stating that high school ball is "not a player development environment. In fact, it develops bad habits and complacency."

After opening with a scoreless tie against France, the USA beat New Zealand, 3-1, to take the Group C lead at the U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

The USA, facing what is likely its strongest Group C opponent, opened the U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea by tying France, 0-0.

Will the third time be a charm for the U.S. women's national team program in 2016?

It was last January when Christian Pulisic, now a regular in Borussia Dortmund's starting lineup, made his Bundesliga debut at age 17. If we soon see another U.S. teen play in Germany's top tier, it may be Texan McKinze Gaines, who signed with VfL Wolfsburg upon turning 18 last March.

The desire of American youngsters to join foreign clubs and the clubs courting U.S. teens has steadily increased over the years - even before the success of Pennsylvanian Christian Pulisic, who debuted for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga at age 17

April Heinrichs, World Cup winner as a player in 1991 and Olympic gold medal-winning coach in 2004, was named Women's Technical Director in January 2011. We spoke to Heinrichs about the USA's failure to reach the second round of the 2016 U-17 Women's World Cup, the 2017 launch of the Girls Development Academy that has ignited a turf war with the ECNL, and club vs. high school.

U.S. Soccer may soon no longer be the world's only federation that implements bans and limitations on heading at the youngest ages.